CAROLE Doyle removed her children Slainee, 12, and Kierian, 14, from Wentworth High School last year after claiming they were bullied.

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EXCLUSIVE

MORE parents are choosing to have their children educated outside Salford claiming pupils are failing to learn and discipline is not up to scratch at some schools in the city.

A report by Salford City Council's children's services scrutiny committee shows that in 2005, 12 per cent of the 2,816 pupils transferring from primary to secondary school were sent to schools outside Salford, compared with nine per cent the previous year.

Of that 12 per cent - 338 pupils - almost 30 per cent went to independent schools, 17.5 per cent to schools in Bolton, 17.1 per cent to Bury, 13.6 per cent to Manchester, 7.7 per cent to Wigan, 6.5 per cent to Trafford and 5.3 per cent to Warrington.

In the survey parents were asked to indicate from a list of reasons why they had chosen the school they had.

The highest reason stated was 'academic', followed by 'disciplinary policy or procedures'.

Carole Doyle removed her children Slainee, 12, and Kierian, 14, from Wentworth High School last year after claiming they were bullied and says she can fully understand why parents are taking a stance against the city's schools.

The 44-year-old said: "I didn't feel as though they had any disciplinary procedures and the problem was just put down to Kierian. He was picked on because he's got learning difficulties but they turned a blind eye to the bullying.

"I can understand why parents are sending their children out of the area - if I could afford the travelling then I'd send my kids out of Salford too."

At the time of the alleged bullying headteacher Nigel Harrop, who has since left, stressed bullying was not tolerated at Wentworth and a strict policy for dealing with it was in place.

Salford council leader John Merry fears parents may have a false impression of the city's schools and may be making their decisions without even seeing what the city's schools have to offer.

He said: "People should seriously consider the improving Salford schools where GCSE A to C passes have gone up by eight per cent. The more people that send their kids outside the area the harder it is for us to show improvement.

"I'm concerned if anybody thinks Salford's schools are inferior to other schools because they are not. I'm concerned that people might have a false impression."

Cllr Merry used Harrop Fold High School, in Little Hulton - with its recent emergence from special measures - as an example that education in the city is improving.

He said: "Harrop Fold is a fast improving school and parents could do worse than send their children to it. My advice to all parents is to have a good look around their chosen school, talk to the teachers and make their own minds up."